Department of Anthropology

Last updated: July 21, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.

Objectives

Undergraduate Major

Anthropology is a broadly based discipline concerned with the dynamics and diversity of humankind. Subjects of study include social relations, political organization, economics, religion, medicine and disease, human biology and evolution, languages, aesthetics, and ancient societies. This diversity of topics is linked by the common thread of "culture," a concept which is at the heart of anthropological studies. Anthropology considers why and how people from every part of the world and with diverse cultures are different and the same, how the human species has evolved over millions of years, and the ways people make sense of and order their lives.

The Department of Anthropology offers courses covering the discipline's four major subfields: sociocultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology. The major is structured to provide an introduction to the key concepts, methodologies, and theoretical issues of anthropology, while permitting each student sufficient latitude to pursue her or his own special interests.

Graduate Program in Anthropology

The graduate program in anthropology, leading to the MA and PhD degrees, is designed to produce scholars and professionals who will broaden our knowledge of culture and society. Graduate training is based on required courses in the history, theory, and methods of anthropology and on elective courses in topics in the four subfields of anthropology. Intensive training for independent research is stressed, with particular emphasis on fieldwork and comparative studies. Some graduates of the program accept appointments at colleges and universities; others take employment in government, private institutions, or foundations.

Learning Goals

Anthropology explores the dynamics and diversity of humankind. It asks a most difficult and most important question: What does it mean to be human? The discipline ranges from the study of culture and social relations, to human biology and evolution, to economics and politics, to religion and world views, to languages and the connections between language and social dynamics, to visual cultures and architecture, to medicine and disease, and to what we can learn about past societies mostly through the study of material culture and organic remains.

This diversity of topics is linked by the common thread of "culture," that uniquely human capacity or endowment which is at the heart of anthropological studies. As a discipline, anthropology begins with a simple yet powerful idea: any detail of our behavior can be understood better when it is seen against the backdrop of the full range of human behavior. By focusing on human diversity, the anthropologist learns to avoid "ethnocentrism," the tendency to interpret seemingly strange practices on the basis of preconceptions derived from one’s own cultural background. Moreover, this same process helps us see our own society through fresh eyes. By thus making "the strange familiar and the familiar strange," anthropology pushes forward understandings of ourselves and others, as well as of the nature of humanity as a whole.

The Department of Anthropology offers courses in social-cultural, archaeological, biological and linguistic anthropology. The major is structured to provide an introduction to anthropology’s core concepts, methodologies, and theoretical issues, while permitting each student sufficient latitude to pursue his or her own special interests.

Knowledge: Students completing the major in anthropology will come away with a strong understanding of:

the diversity of human cultures and the interdependence of people around the world;

the inequality in relations of power within and among the world’s societies and nations in the past and present;

what it means to be a human being: who we are, how we came to be that way, and what some of the major challenges we face for the future;

the major questions, concepts, theories, ethical issues and methodologies of anthropology as a professional discipline.

Core Skills: The anthropology major also emphasizes core skills in data collection, critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, and communication. Anthropology majors from Brandeis will be well prepared to:

conduct scholarly, professional, and original research using a variety of published sources as well as core anthropological research methodologies, including interviews, participant observation, excavation and laboratory analysis;

evaluate information critically, with particular attention to examining taken-for-granted assumptions using the lens of culture; and

clearly convey facts, ideas, opinions and beliefs in a variety of written and oral formats, such as traditional, web-based, visual and other media.

Social Justice: The anthropology curriculum provides students with the knowledge and perspectives needed to participate as informed citizens in a global society. Anthropology emphasizes tolerance and respect for other cultures’ ways of conceptualizing the world. Anthropological approaches oriented toward social and political engagement, collaborations with local communities, applied work, and public dissemination of research (through publishing, oral presentations, film, the internet and museum exhibits) also provide specific tools and opportunities for those committed to Brandeis’s ideal of learning in service of social justice.

Upon Graduating: A Brandeis student with an anthropology major will be prepared to:

pursue graduate study and a scholarly career in anthropology; or

use the knowledge and perspectives gained from the sustained study of humanity to pursue professional training and a range of careers in any field dealing with people—including healthcare, government, business, law, journalism, education, and human rights work—in local and international settings.

Many of our graduates go on to graduate school in law, medicine, public health, public policy, social work, museum studies, education, and business, as well as anthropology.

How to Become a Major

Students who wish either to major in anthropology or to study for a minor in anthropology should see the undergraduate advising head, who will discuss specific interests and assign an adviser. Students may wish to study within the general anthropology program or focus on linguistic or archaeological anthropology. ANTH 1a (Introduction to the Comparative Study of Human Societies) and ANTH 5a (Human Origins) should be taken early in the academic career. Majors are encouraged to select honors research projects, particularly those students considering graduate study in anthropology or other professional training.

The department sponsors credit-bearing internships (ANTH 92a and b) for junior and senior majors and minors. Internships combine off-campus and on-campus work that provides a significant anthropological learning experience and academic study supervised by a departmental faculty sponsor. Majors may substitute one internship for the ninth elective course option. Students doing summer internships register for course credit in the following fall semester. A minimum of a B+ grade point average in anthropology courses is required for eligibility. For information, see Guidelines for Anthropology Internships, available from the undergraduate advising head.

How to Be Admitted to the Graduate Program

The general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, specified in an earlier section of the Bulletin, apply to candidates for admission to graduate study in anthropology. Admission decisions are based primarily on the candidate's undergraduate academic record, letters of recommendation, writing sample, and the personal statement that is part of the application form. It is also advisable that the results of the Graduate Record Examination be submitted. A personal interview on campus is encouraged but not required.

MA Programs: Applicants to the master's program in anthropology or in anthropology & women's and gender studies need not have completed an undergraduate major in anthropology. Students enrolled in the MA program in anthropology or anthropology & women's and gender studies may, after having completed the equivalent of their first semester's course work, apply for admission to the doctoral program. Their applications will be considered along with the pool of candidates from outside Brandeis seeking admission directly to the doctoral program. Candidates for the MA program in anthropology or in anthropology & women's and gender studies with demonstrated financial need may petition the graduate school for partial tuition scholarships.

PhD Program: Applicants to the doctoral program must demonstrate that their anthropological interests are well defined and that these interests are congruent with those of Brandeis anthropology department faculty. Full-tuition scholarships and stipends (fellowships) may be awarded to students in the doctoral program. Assuming satisfactory progress in the doctoral program, scholarships and fellowships are renewable for five years. Doctoral applicants are accepted only as direct admissions from Brandeis master's programs.

Requirements for the Minor

B. Three courses in anthropology, to be chosen in consultation with the student's adviser in the department.

C. A minimum of three of the five courses required for the minor must be taken from Brandeis anthropology faculty.

D. No course with a final grade below C- can count toward fulfilling the requirements for the minor in Anthropology. No course taken pass/fail may count toward the minor requirements.

Requirements for the Major

A. Required of all majors: A minimum of nine semester courses in anthropology from among the ANTH and cross-listed offerings, to include ANTH 1a and ANTH 5a.

B. A minimum of five of the nine courses required for the major must be taken from Brandeis anthropology faculty.

C. A student may petition to receive anthropology credit for the major for one semester course completed at the university outside of the anthropology department and its cross-listed courses, provided that the course is clearly related to the student’s program of study. Students focusing on biological or linguistic anthropology may take up to two courses outside of the anthropology department, drawing from the list of courses provided under "Biological Anthropology Focus" and "Linguistic Anthropology Focus" below. Cross-listed courses do not require special approval to be counted toward the anthropology major.

D. Students may apply an anthropological internship course (ANTH 92a) only once toward the requirements for the major.

E. No course with a final grade below C- can count toward fulfilling the requirements for the major in Anthropology. No course taken pass/fail may count toward the major requirements.

Honors Candidates: Admission to the honors program in anthropology requires completion of at least five courses in anthropology and a cumulative GPA in anthropology of 3.5 or higher by the end of the junior year. Students submit a thesis proposal to the departmental faculty during the first week of the fall semester for consideration by the department faculty. If accepted to the program, students enroll in ANTH 99a and ANTH 99b. Honors candidates must complete ten courses for the major, including ANTH 99a and ANTH 99b.

General Anthropology
Anthropology majors need not focus on any one of the four main subfields of anthropology (social-cultural, archaeological, biological and linguistic), and can select a range of courses that fit their interests, mastering a "four-fields" approach to the discipline. Alternatively, students may choose to focus their coursework to specialize their training in one or more of the anthropological subfields.

Social-Cultural Anthropology Focus: Exploring Cross-Cultural Diversity and the Human Experience
Social-cultural anthropologists examine contemporary societies and cultures in all their remarkable diversity and complexity. The majority of courses in the department's anthropology curriculum relate to social-cultural anthropology, a subfield that examines important dimensions of human life such as social inequalities and identities, political economies, gender systems, kinship and families, value and exchange, medicine and illness, religion, semiotic systems, visual cultures, migration and transnationalism, the cultural dimensions of globalization, understandings of the body and personhood, and the ways human beings interpret their worlds and make meaning in their lives. Social-cultural anthropologists study both their own and other societies as a means of better understanding both, and investigate vital questions about what it entails to be human.

Beyond the two specific courses required for the major, it is recommended that students focusing on social-cultural anthropology choose from the following courses when designing their programs of study: ANTH 20b, 26a, 55a, 61b, 80a, 105a, 108b, 109a, 111a, 114b, 115b, 119a, 127a, 128a, 129b, 130b, 131b, 134a, 138a, 139b, 144a, 145a, 155b, 156a, 157a, 158a, 159a, 163b, 184b and PSYC 131a. A student may also petition to have a course taken in another department or program to replace one anthropology course requirement, provided that course is clearly related to the student's program of study.

Archaeology Focus: Digging into Material Culture
The goal of archaeology is to provide an anthropological perspective on societies from the appearance of human beings through to the present mostly via the study of material culture and organic remains. Archaeologists recover, document, analyze and interpret materials including architecture, landscapes, pottery, stone tools, inscriptions, funerary goods, plant remains, and human and faunal skeletons. Patterns in and of material culture provide insight into the nature of political orders, social arrangements, belief systems, the shift from foraging to agricultural economies, the inception of urban life, environmental transformations, and the rise and collapse of ancient polities among many other subjects. Archaeologists often make use of materials science studies, remote imagery (as from satellites), and geographic information systems (GIS), among other tools to facilitate anthropological interpretation. The archaeology curriculum is particularly recommended to those students considering the study of archaeology at the graduate level, as well as careers in conservation, heritage and museum studies, and cultural resource management.

In addition to the two courses required for the anthropology major, it is recommended that students focusing on archaeology include as many of the following as possible in their program: ANTH 60a, 60b, 115b, 116a, 119a, 123a, 128a, 136a, 147b, 153a, 168a, 187a, 188b, CLAS 133a and CLAS 134b. Students may also take a sequence of two half semester courses HS263f and HS297f on geographic information systems (GIS) in the Heller School and count this as one full course towards the major. A student may also petition to have a course taken in another department or program to replace one anthropology course requirement, provided that course is clearly related to the student's program of study.

Biological Anthropology Focus: Human Evolution and the Biocultural Dimensions of Humanity
Biological anthropology looks at the intersection of humans as cultural and biological beings. This subfield examines topics such as the long evolutionary history of the human species, and the intersecting biological and cultural dimensions of humanity in domains such as gender, human development and aging, psychology, mental illness and medicine.

In addition to the two courses required for the major, it is recommended that students focusing on biological anthropology include as many of the following as possible in their program: ANTH 20b, 111a, 116a, 127a, 144a, 145a, 154a, 155b and PSYC 131a. Students may also count as electives a maximum of two of the following related courses in other disciplines: BISC 2b, BISC 4a, BISC 5a, BISC 5b, BISC 6bj, BIOL 16a, BIOL 17b, BIOL 55b, BIOL 128a, NBIO 140b, BIOL 160b, NPSY 11b, PSYC 15a and PSYC 31a.

Linguistic Anthropology Focus: Language, Culture and Communication
Linguistic anthropology focuses on language, the hallmark of the human species and the foundation of culture. Linguistic anthropologists explore the nature of language itself; the relationship between language, thought and behavior; how ethnic, national and gendered identities are fashioned linguistically; and the ways in which language and all other aspects of human culture interrelate.

In addition to the two courses required for the anthropology major, it is recommended that students focusing on linguistic anthropology include as many of the following as possible in their program: ANTH 26a, 61b, 114b, 139b, 153a, 186b and LING 140a. Students may also count a maximum of two courses from the LING listing as electives. Students are encouraged to take LING 100a early in their academic career.

Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts

Program of Study

Students admitted to the MA program in anthropology must fulfill the Graduate School residence requirement of one full year of course work. Course requirements include the foundational course, ANTH 201a (History of Anthropological Thought). In addition, all candidates for the MA must meet the following requirements:

A. Complete a program consisting of seven elective courses designed around their anthropological interests, selected with the approval of a faculty adviser to be assigned to each student upon matriculation.

B. Master’s research paper requirement: Completion of a master’s research paper of professional quality and length (normally twenty-five to forty pages). The paper will be evaluated by two faculty members.

C. There is no foreign language requirement for the master's degree in anthropology.

D. The program may take an additional one or two semesters to complete as an Extended Master's student.

Requirements for the Joint Degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology & Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Students pursuing the joint MA in Anthropology & Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies combine their interests in anthropology and the study of women, gender, and/or sexuality. Candidates may undertake a freestanding terminal joint master’s degree or complete the joint master’s as they work toward a doctoral degree.

The terminal master’s degree can be achieved in one year, but students may benefit from the rich array of course offerings by extending their studies into a second year. Doctoral students in the anthropology program may enroll in the joint master’s degree program at any time during their graduate studies with the approval of their adviser and of the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program.

Students interested in the joint degree program should consult with Ms. Lamb, the anthropology department Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies liaison.

Program of Study
Candidates for the joint MA in Anthropology & Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies must fulfill the residence requirement of one full year of course work (eight semester courses), and complete the following course requirements:

C. WMGS 205a or another course designated as a graduate foundational course in women's, gender, and sexuality studies.

D. A course in feminist research methodologies (WMGS 208a, the Feminist Inquiry course offered through the Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies, or an approved alternative).

E. Four elective graduate courses, including one in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from a field other than anthropology, selected with the approval of the student's faculty adviser. Normally only one of these courses may be a Directed Reading course.

F. Joint MA paper requirement: Completion of a master's research paper of professional quality and length (normally twenty-five to forty pages) on a topic related to the joint degree. The paper will be read by two faculty members, one of whom is a member of the anthropology department, and one of whom is a member of the women's and gender studies core or affiliate faculty. In consultation with the primary advisor, a student may register for WMGS 299 (Master's Project). However, this course does not count toward the eight required courses.

G. The program may take an additional one or two semesters to complete as an Extended Master's student.

Language Requirement
There is no foreign language requirement for the joint master's degree.

Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Program of Study
Flexibility in the curriculum allows doctoral students to organize a program of study around their particular anthropological interests. At the same time, the program is structured so that a broad familiarity with the anthropological discipline is achieved. Students must complete ANTH 201a (History of Anthropological Thought) during their first year of residence. ANTH 202b (Designing Anthropological Research) and ANTH 203b (Contemporary Anthropological Theory) must also be completed within the first two years of residence. These three graduate foundational courses in anthropology emphasize epistemological issues in cross-cultural research and the relationship between scientific and humanistic modes of inquiry. Additional courses may be required as determined by the student's advisory committee. From their courses and outside reading, students must obtain a high level of competence in a specific topical field of anthropological research and in at least one culture area.

Graduate-level course offerings at Brandeis are augmented by the university's participation in a cross-registration program with Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University, and Wellesley College. Anthropology students are eligible to take courses at these institutions with the approval of their adviser. Students with an interest in archaeology may also take courses offered through the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology, a Boston-area consortium comprising faculty from Brandeis, Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Museum of Fine Arts, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Wellesley College. Students interested in gender and women's studies may enroll in interdisciplinary courses offered through the Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies.

Candidates for the doctoral degree work closely with an advisory committee consisting of at least two anthropology department faculty members, one of whom, the principal adviser, is in a field of specialization related to the interests of the student. The advisory committee has the following responsibilities: (1) to aid the student in constructing a coherent program of coursework leading to a high level of competency in one or more areas of anthropological theory and methodology; (2) to make certain that the courses selected include exposure to other areas within the discipline; (3) to ensure that a component of interdisciplinary study is included; and (4) to ensure that the student is knowledgeable in the anthropology of one or more of the world's culture areas. The department faculty meet annually to evaluate the progress of students in the doctoral program.

Teaching Requirement
Students will be required to serve as teaching fellows as part of their PhD training.

Residence Requirement
Candidates for the PhD in anthropology are required to meet the residence requirement as set forth by the Graduate School.

Qualifying Procedure
Upon completion of course requirements (normally by the end of the third year of full-time study), students must take a General Examination that tests their overall theoretical, topical, and area knowledge based on a reading list developed in consultation with their advisory committee. Subsequently, they engage in independent study in their areas of specialization and complete additional coursework, including reading courses and language training, as needed. Students then write an extended dissertation proposal that demonstrates mastery of relevant theoretical issues, historical and ethnographic material, and epistemological problems relevant to the proposed dissertation research. The proposal clearly articulates a research problem, specifies the kinds of data to be elicited, and proposes a cogent research design. Following preliminary approval by their advisory committee, students formally defend their proposals at a hearing before the department faculty. Students then normally apply for research grants to fund their project, engage in fieldwork and/or data gathering, and write and defend a doctoral dissertation.

Language Requirements
A reading knowledge of at least one foreign language must be demonstrated by written examination.

Dissertation and Defense
The completed dissertation must be successfully defended in an oral examination, as required by university regulations, before it can be formally accepted. At that point the department will recommend to the dean of arts and sciences that the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in anthropology be awarded to the candidate.

Courses of Instruction

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

ANTH
1a
Introduction to the Comparative Study of Human Societies
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Examines the ways human beings construct their lives in a variety of societies. Includes the study of the concept of culture, kinship, and social organization, political economy, gender and sexuality, religion and ritual, symbols and language, social inequalities and social change, and globalization. Consideration of anthropological research methods and approaches to cross-cultural analysis. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Anjaria, Ms. Lamb, or Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
5a
Human Origins
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Studies major evolutionary transformations of humanity from early hominins to fully modern Homo sapiens, and offers an introduction to the theoretical frameworks and biological processes that explain these transformations. Fossils and archaeological evidence serve to highlight the origins of bipedalism, and symbolic practices including art and language, and the shift from foraging to agricultural and pastoral societies. Usually offered every year.Mr. Golden or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
7a
Great Discoveries in Archaeology
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Surveys the history of archaeological study, highlight the most significant discoveries from cultures across the world. Examines and compares archaeological case studies from the breadth of human history, including sites occupied by ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, Maya, Inca, Chinese, and Romans. Usually offered every year.Mr. Parno

ANTH
20b
Feast and Famine: Food and Social Relations
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Food brings together our physical bodies and our capacity for making culture; this has made it a central topic for writers, artists, historians, anthropologists, and others. Examines ways of eating (and not eating) that mediate, express, and exemplify relations among people. The course concludes with an in-depth view of contemporary food systems and reform movements. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Ferry

ANTH
26a
Communication and Media
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An exploration of human communication and mass media from a cross-cultural perspective. Examines communication codes based on language and visual signs. The global impact of revolutions in media technology, including theories of cultural imperialism and indigenous uses of media is discussed. Usually offered every second year.Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
55a
Anthropology of Development
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This course combines an examination of the historical development of "development" concepts and institutions with case studies of particular developmental projects in the United States and abroad. Throughout the course, we will sustain a dynamic interplay between development theory and practice. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Ferry

ANTH
59aj
Introduction to Archaeology
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Introduces archaeological concepts and field methodologies in a classroom, lecture, and discussion-based environment. Providing a solid foundation in the fundamental tenets of archaeology, this course prepares students to pursue in-depth archaeological investigations in the field and the classroom. Offered as part of JBS program.Mr. Slater

ANTH
60a
Archaeological Methods
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This course offers a 2-credit optional Experiential Learning practicum.Focuses on the exploration of archaeological sites on and near campus to offer a practice-oriented introduction to field methods, including surface-survey, mapping, and excavation of archaeological features. Other topics include principles of stratigraphy and relative/chronometric dating methods. Usually offered every second year. Mr. Golden or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
60aj
Archaeological Methods
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Focuses on the exploration of archaeological sites on and near campus to offer a practice-oriented introduction to field methods, including surface-survey, mapping, and excavation of archaeological features. Other topics include principles of stratigraphy and relative/chronometric dating methods. Offered as part of JBS program.Staff

ANTH
60b
Archaeological Analysis
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An introduction to archaeological laboratory methods and analyses, emphasizing hands-on experience. Students engage in discussion of field and laboratory methods, ethical issues, and the challenges of interpreting human behavior from material remains. Students conduct independent analyses ancient artifacts in the classroom and also conduct independent research in surrounding communities in locations such as the Boston area's graveyards. Usually offered every second year. Mr. Golden or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
60bj
Archaeological Analysis
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Introduces archaeological laboratory methods and analyses, emphasizing hands-on experience. Students engage in discussion of field and laboratory methods, ethical issues, and the challenges of interpreting human behavior from material remains. Students conduct independent analyses ancient artifacts in the classroom and also conduct independent research in surrounding communities in locations such as the Boston area's graveyards. Offered as part of JBS program.Staff

ANTH
61b
Language in American Life
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Examines the relations between language and some major dimensions of American social life: social groupings (the structures of ethnic, regional, class, and gender relations); social settings (such as courtrooms, workplaces, and homes); and social interaction. Usually offered every second year.Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
62a
Archaeology in Politics, Film and Public Culture
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Examines the use of archaeology in national politics, popular culture, and continued international debates revolving around issues of cultural patrimony. After a brief look at the history of the field and its inception within colonialism, this course centers on the contemporary uses of archaeology, including archaeology in totalitarian Nazi Germany and Mussolini's Italy, nationalist projects and the establishment of nation-building narratives (such as in Israel, Egypt, China and Mexico), and portrayals of archaeology in popular films and modern hoaxes. Importantly, this course also focuses on national and international laws concerning cultural objects and sites, and the ethical dilemmas of stewardship, repatriation, and looting. Usually offered every third year.Staff

ANTH
63a
Non-Western Musical Traditions
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Explores non-Western musical traditions in social and cultural contexts, including music of the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Americas. Focuses on methodologies within the field of ethnomusicology, and the study of music in the social sciences. Usually offered every fourth year.Staff

ANTH
66a
Heritage and Society: The Politics of the Past
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Explores issues relating to the definition, presentation, and study of heritage as both an anthropological concept and a lived experience. Topics covered include heritage management and conservation, public archaeology, national and international law, and heritage tourism. Also examines how factors such as colonialism, nationalism, and ethnicity have impacted cultural heritage over the centuries. Usually offered every second year.Staff

ANTH
70a
Business, Culture and Society
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In a diverse and rapidly changing global marketplace, it is crucial to understand local traditions, customs and cultural preferences. In this course, we adopt anthropological approaches to understand their impact on business practices, products, services, clients and ideas. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Tankha

ANTH
74a
Catastrophes Across Cultures: The Anthropology of Disasters
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Uses an anthropological perspective to comparatively observe historical disasters throughout the world. The course is designed to explore the intersection between disaster and culture and how disaster can be a window through which to critically analyze society and vice versa. Special one-time offering, spring 2015.Mr. Morimoto

ANTH
80a
Anthropology of Religion
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An introduction to the anthropological study of human religious experience, with particular emphasis on religious and ritual practice in comparative perspective. Examines the relationship between religion and society in small-scale, non-Western contexts as well as in complex societies, global cultures, and world historical religions. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Lamb or Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
81a
Conducting Ethnographic Fieldwork: Methods and Practice of Anthropological Research
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Formerly offered as ANTH 181aj.Examines principal issues in ethnographic fieldwork and analysis, including research design, data collection, and ethnographic representation. Students will develop a focused research question, design field research, and conduct supervised fieldwork in a variety of local settings. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Anjaria

ANTH
92a
Internship and Analysis
Students may take no more than one departmental internship for credit. The department sponsors internships for junior and senior majors and minors. Internships combine off-campus and on-campus work that provides a significant anthropological learning experience and academic study supervised by a departmental faculty sponsor. Majors may substitute one internship for the ninth elective course option. Students doing summer internships register for course credit in the following fall semester. A minimum GPA of B+ in anthropology courses is required for eligibility. For additional information, see the Guidelines for Anthropology Internships, available from the undergraduate adviser. Usually offered every year.Staff

ANTH
98a
Individual Readings and Research in Anthropology
Individual readings and research under the direction of a faculty supervisor. Usually offered every year.Staff

ANTH
98b
Individual Readings and Research in Anthropology
Individual readings and research under the direction of a faculty supervisor. Usually offered every year.Staff

ANTH
99a
Senior Research
Seniors who have a 3.5 or higher GPA in anthropology courses and who wish to be considered for honors submit a thesis proposal to the department faculty and, if accepted, enroll in this course with permission of the instructor. Usually offered every year.Staff

ANTH
99b
Senior Thesis
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ANTH 99a. Does not count toward the major in anthropology.Seniors who wish to complete a senior honors thesis normally enroll in this course. Usually offered every year.Staff

(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students

ANTH
105a
Myth and Ritual
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Studies myth and ritual as two interlocking modes of cultural symbolism. Evaluates theoretical approaches to myth by looking at creation and political myths. Examines performative, processual, and spatial models of ritual analysis through study of initiation, sacrifice, and funerals. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
108b
History, Time, and Tradition
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Explores topics relating to the historical dimension of societies in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives: the cultural construction of the past, temporal and calendrical systems, the invention of tradition, ethnohistorical narrative, cultural memory and forgetting, historical monuments, and museums. Usually offered every third year.Mr. Parmentier

ANTH
109a
Children, Parenting, and Education in Cross-Cultural Perspective
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Examines childcare techniques, beliefs about childhood and adolescence, and the objectives of school systems in different areas of the world, in order to illuminate cross-cultural similarities and differences in conceptions of personhood, identity, gender, class, race, nation, and the relationship between the individual and society. Usually offered every third year.Staff

ANTH
111a
Aging in Cross-Cultural Perspective
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This course offers a 2-credit optional Experiential Learning practicum.Examines the meanings and social arrangements given to aging in a diversity of societies, including the U.S., India, Japan and China. Key themes include: the diverse ways people envision and organize the life course, scholarly and popular models of successful aging, the medicalization of aging in the U.S., cultural perspectives on dementia, and the ways national aging policies and laws are profoundly influenced by particular cultural models. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Lamb

ANTH
114b
Verbal Art and Cultural Performance
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Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary study of genres of verbal art and oral performance. Complex social uses of verbal arts in festival, drama, ritual, dance, carnival, and spectacle. Difficulty of reconstructing original context of narrative, oratory, poetry, and epic. Usually offered every third year.Mr. Parmentier

ANTH
115b
Borderlands: Space, Place, and Landscape
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Studies human behavior framed by and creating the spaces and landscapes in which we live. This seminar examines archaeological and ethnographic understandings of the relationships between culture, space, and landscapes with a particular focus on the political and social dynamics of borderlands. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Golden

ANTH
116a
Human Osteology
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Anthropology majors have priority for enrollment. Students wishing to enroll during early registration should waitlist themselves.Skeletal anatomy and application of forensic techniques to archaeological problems. Hands-on laboratory sessions focus on methods of estimating age at the time of death, determining sex, assessing skeletal variability, detecting instances of bone remodeling, and identifying cultural and natural modifications to bony tissue. Case studies exemplify bioarchaeological approaches. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Urcid

ANTH
118b
Culture and Power in the Middle East
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Examines the peoples and societies of the Middle East from an anthropological perspective. Explores problems of cross-cultural examination, the notion of the Middle East as an area of study, and the role of anthropology in the formation of the idea of the “Middle East.” To this end, the course is divided into sections devoted to understanding and problematizing key concepts and themes central to our understanding of the region, including tribe and state, family and kinship, gender and sexuality, honor and shame, tradition and modernity, and religion and secularism. Course materials will include critical ethnographies based on field work in the region as well as locally produced materials such as literature, music, film and other visual arts. Usually offered every fourth year.Staff

ANTH
119a
Conquests, Resistance, and Cultural Transformation in Mexico and Central America
[
nw
ss
]
Examines the continuing negotiation of identity and power that were at the heart of tragedy and triumph for indigenous peoples in colonial Mexico and Central America, and which continue in the modern states of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Golden

ANTH
121a
Crossing Cultural Boundaries
[
ss
]
May not be taken for credit by students who have taken ANTH 33b in prior years.An examination of situations where individuals, either actually or imaginatively, willingly or unwillingly, cross over the boundaries separating their own culture and other cultural traditions. The understandings and misunderstandings that result from these encounters are examined in primary texts and images and in scholarly reconstructions. Transient experiences are compared with sites that develop over a long period of time (colonial settlements, plantations, frontiers). Potentials for reflexive self-understanding and meaningful dialogue are sought in fictional and nonfictional representations of boundary crossings. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Parmentier

ANTH
123a
Archaeology in Theory and Practice
[
ss
]
Focuses on the fundamental problem of archaeology: how can we understand past cultures on the basis of broken pottery, ruined buildings, scattered stone tools, and the other material remains left to us? Drawing on the work of scholars conducting research around the world, this seminar offers an exploration of the great variety of theoretical perspectives on approaching the human past. Readings and discussions will engage students with the major theoretical and methodological issues of the field in the 20th and 21st centuries. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Golden, Mr. Parno or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
127a
Medicine, Body, and Culture
[
nw
ss
]
Examines main areas of inquiry in medical anthropology, including medicine as a sociocultural construct, political and economic dimensions of suffering and health, patients and healers in comparative medical systems, and the medical construction of men's and women's bodies. Usually offered every year.Ms. Lamb or Ms. Hannig

ANTH
128a
Meaning and Material Culture
[
ss
]
Whether indexing identities, exchange valuables, or representations of cultural meanings, objects are seen as means to mediate social interaction and practices. This course focuses on how materials that express culturally coded meanings (whether contextual, formal, or conventional) can be adequately studied in the relative absence of indigenous interpretation. The course has a hands-on component based on the artifact collection in the department’s Material Culture Research Center. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Urcid

ANTH
129b
Global and Transnational Processes
[
ss
]
Examines the social and cultural dimensions of globalization from an anthropological perspective. It starts by critically engaging with more fundamental concepts such as state, identity, and movement. It then proceeds to debate the various contributions that anthropologists have presented to the understanding of human life in global, transnational, and diasporic contexts. Topics to be discussed include place, migration, religion, global sexual cultures, kinship, and technology—all within a global perspective. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Anjaria, Ms. Ferry or Ms. Lamb

ANTH
130b
Visuality and Culture
[
ss
]
Explores the nature of the visual image in sociocultural theory and in ethnographic representation. Topics include the history of ethnographic film, development of indigenous arts, visuality in popular culture and mass consumption, and film in postcolonial representation. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
131b
Latin America in Ethnographic Perspective
[
ss
wi
]
Anthropology and LALS majors and minors have priority for enrollment. Examines issues in contemporary Latin America and the Spanish Caribbean from the perspective of sociocultural anthropology, based primarily on books and articles drawing on long-term ethnographic research. Topics may include: the Zapatista Rebellion in Mexico; tin mining and religion in Bolivia; mortuary cannibalism in the Amazon; the role of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexican national identity; love and marriage among young migrants from Mexico and the United States; weaving, beauty pageants, and jokes in Guatemala; and daily life in revolutionary Cuba. Usually offered every second year. Ms. Ferry

ANTH
134a
South Asian Culture and Society
[
nw
ss
]
May be repeated for credit if taught by different instructors.Examines the diversity and richness of the cultures and societies of South Asia, with a focus on India. Concentrates on the lived experiences of class, caste, gender, religion, politics, and region in people's everyday lives. Usually offered every third year.Mr. Anjaria or Ms. Lamb

ANTH
136a
Archaeology of Power: Authority, Prestige, and Inequality in the Past
[
nw
ss
]
Anthropological and archaeological research and theory provide a unique, long-term perspective on the development of inequality and rise of hierarchical societies, including the earliest ancient states such as the Moche, Maya, China, Sumerians, Egyptians, and others through 5000 years of human history. A comparative, multidisciplinary seminar examining the dynamics of authority, prestige, and power in the past, and the implications for understanding the present . Usually offered every second year.Mr. Golden

ANTH
138a
Anthropology of Digital and Biotechnologies
[
ss
]
Examines how anthropology can contribute to the understanding of new communication and bio technologies as transformative social-cultural forces. Provides an introduction to various forms of computer-mediated and digital communication (e.g., instant messaging, blogging, social networking, online dating) and the ways in which people interact in these different contexts of cyberspace. Explores how new forms of both digital and bio technologies are shaping forms of identity, community and society today. Students are expected to do online research. Students are expected to do online research. Usually offered every year.Staff

ANTH
139b
Language, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
[
ss
]
It is often assumed that language differences divide people, while a common language unites them. To what extent is this true? Taking cross-cultural and historical approaches, we examine the role of language in creating concepts of tribe, ethnicity, and nation. Explores what kinds of social groupings these terms might label, some ideologies connected with their use, and their relationship with communication systems. Usually offered every second year.Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
140a
Human Rights in Global Perspective
[
ss
]
Explores a range of debates about human rights as a concept as well as the practice of human rights work. The human rights movement seeks the recognition of universal norms that transcend political and cultural difference while anthropology seeks to explore and analyze the great diversity of human life. To what extent can these two goals--advocating for universal norms and respecting cultural difference--be reconciled? The course examines cases from various parts of the world concerning: indigenous peoples, environment, health, gender, genocide/violence/nation-states and globalization. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Ferry

ANTH
144a
The Anthropology of Gender
[
nw
ss
wi
]
This course offers a 2-credit optional Experiential Learning practicum.Examines gender constructs, sexuality, and cultural systems from a comparative perspective. Topics include the division of labor, rituals of masculinity and femininity, the vexing question of the universality of women's subordination, cross-cultural perspectives on same-sex sexualities and transsexuality, the impact of globalization on systems, and the history of feminist anthropology. Usually offered every year.Ms. Hannig, Ms. Lamb or Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
145a
Anthropology of the Body
[
ss
]
Explores a range of theories that use the body to understand society, culture, and gender. Topics include how social values and hierarchies are written in, on, and through the body; the relationship between body and gender identity; and experiences and images of the body cross-culturally. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Lamb or Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
147b
Mesoamerican Civilizations and Their Legacies
[
nw
ss
]
Traces the development of social complexity in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, from initial colonization in the Late Pleistocene to the Spanish conquest in the sixteenth century. Reviews major societal transformations like food production, the role of competitive generosity and warfare in promoting social inequalities, and the rise of urban societies. It also examines indigenous social movements against Spanish colonialism, and considers the legacies and role of indigenous peoples in the contemporary nations of Middle America. Usually offered every third year.Mr. Golden or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
148a
Media in Latin America
[
ss
wi
]
Looks at Latin America from the perspective of media production, circulation and consumption, beginning with a few foundational texts on the region and on the study of media in anthropology and cultural studies, and then taking a thematic/regional approach. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Ferry

ANTH
151b
Nature, Culture, Power: Anthropology of the Environment
[
ss
]
Examines the relationships among human and natural worlds. Topics include: the cultural production of 'wildness', the politics of conservation, indigeneity and the environment, colonialism and natural resource extraction. Ethnographies based on research in the United States, Africa and Asia will enable students to explore how anthropology offers insight into the pressing environmental issues of today. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Anjaria

ANTH
153a
Writing Systems and Scribal Traditions
[
nw
ss
]
Explores the ways in which writing has been conceptualized in social anthropology, linguistics and archaeology. A comparative study of various forms of visual communication, both non-glottic and glottic systems, is undertaken to better understand the nature of pristine and contemporary phonetic scripts around the world and to consider alternative models to explain their origin, prestige, and obsolescence. The course pays particular attention to the social functions of early writing systems, the linkage of literacy and political power, and the production of historical memory. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Urcid

ANTH
154a
Culture and Mental Illness
[
ss
]
Without underestimating the importance of biological causes and treatments, this course challenges the hegemony of bio-medical models in psychiatry by seeking to conceptualize emotional problems and mental illness as historically situated and culturally constructed. Examines how factors related to political circumstances, social institutions, religious belief systems, socio-economic status, and ethnic background participate in shaping forms of distress and the ways they are dealt with in various socio-cultural settings. The course will also consider alternative therapies such as art therapy, community-based treatments, and culturally specific approaches to emotional healing and accommodation. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
155b
Psychological Anthropology
[
ss
]
An examination of the relationship between sociocultural systems and individual psychological processes with a critical evaluation of selected theories and studies bearing on this problem. Usually offered every second year.Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
156a
Power and Violence: The Anthropology of Political Systems
[
nw
ss
]
Political orders are established and maintained by varying combinations of overt violence and the more subtle workings of ideas. The course examines the relationship of coercion and consensus, and forms of resistance, in historical and contemporary settings. Usually offered every second year. Ms. Ferry

ANTH
157a
Kinship, Families and Households
[
ss
]
Describes and analyzes several family types and households in contemporary American life, interpreting them in their cultural contexts and comparing them with similar arrangements in other cultures. Usually offered every second year.Staff

ANTH
158a
Urban Worlds
[
ss
]
Explores some of the essential concepts of urban theory and conducts an in-depth study of urban experiences around the world. Topics include the city and marginality, urban modernity, gender and public space, gentrification, suburbanization, transgression, and urban nature. Case studies may be from cities such as Lagos, New York, Paris, Dubai, and Rio de Janeiro. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Anjaria

ANTH
159a
Museums and Public Memory
[
ss
]
Explores the social and political organization of public memory, including museums, cultural villages, and memorial sites. Who has the right to determine the content and form of such institutions? Working with local community members, students will develop a collaborative exhibition project. Usually offered every second year.Staff

ANTH
160b
Dirt, Disgust, and Contagion: The Anthropology of Pollution
[
nw
ss
]
Explores the anthropological concepts of dirt and pollution. What makes things repulsive to us and why? We examine the culturally-specific significance of bodily boundaries, fluids, and smells with particular emphasis on the intersections between gender, race, hygiene, and morality. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Hannig

ANTH
162b
Struggles over Existence: Ontologies and Cosmopolitics
[
ss
]
Takes off from the field of Philosophical Anthropology to explore issues of ontology and cosmopolitics, probing various understandings of the nature of being and the nature of humanity. Addresses such questions as: What sorts of beings exist and for whom? What are the consequences of accepting certain beings as political agents, but not others? Should humans always be granted a privileged place in the social sciences? How do discussions regarding the nature of being impact our daily practices? Usually offered every fourth year.Staff

ANTH
163b
Production, Consumption, and Exchange
[
nw
ss
]
Prerequisite: ANTH 1a, ECON 2a, ECON 10a, or permission of the instructor.We read in newspapers and books and hear in everyday discussion about "the economy," an identifiably separate sphere of human life with its own rules and principles and its own scholarly discipline (economics). The class starts with the premise that this "common sense" idea of the economy is only one among a number of possible perspectives on the ways people use resources to meet their basic and not-so-basic human needs. In the course, we draw on cross-cultural examples, and take a look at the cultural aspects of finance, corporations, and markets. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Ferry

ANTH
164a
Medicine and Religion
[
nw
ss
]
Prerequisite: ANTH 1a or equivalent.Considers the convergence of two cultural spheres that are normally treated as separate: medicine and religion. The course will examine their overlap, such as in healing and dying, as well as points of contention through historical and contemporary global ethnographies. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Hannig

ANTH
165a
The Amazon Forest: Challenges, Opportunities, and Paradoxes
[
ss
]
May not be taken for credit by students who took IGS 165a in prior years.Uses the case of the "world's largest rainforest" to frame some of the most pressing questions raised by economic growth in developing countries, from environmental impact to wealth distribution to the rights of indigenous peoples and the preservation of local cultures. Usually offered every third year.Staff

ANTH
166b
Queer Anthropology: Sexualities and Genders in Cross-Cultural Perspective
[
ss
]
Explores ethnographic approaches to the study of sexuality and gender in diverse cultural contexts, such as the US, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Mexico. Examines how sexuality intersects with other cultural forms, including gender, race, ethnicity, labor, religion, colonialism and globalization. Explores also how the discipline of anthropology has been shaped by engagements with questions of sexuality and the field of queer studies. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Lamb and Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
168a
The Maya: Past, Present and Future
[
nw
ss
]
Explores the culture of the Maya in Mexico and Central America through nearly 3000 years of history. Using archaeology, ethnohistory, and ethnography, studies their ancient past and their modern lives. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Golden

ANTH
179b
Women and War
[
ss
]
Examines women in wartime, from small scale and ancient societies to present day debates over gender and combat roles; warfare, sex work, and sexual assault; women on home fronts. Explores feminist and queer theory perspectives on anti-militarism and military formations. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
180b
Playing Human: Persons, Objects, Imagination
[
ss
]
Examines how people interact with material artifacts that are decidedly not human and yet which, paradoxically, deepen and extend experiences of being human. Theories of fetishism; masking and ritual objects across cultures; play and childhood experience; and objects of imagination, memory and trauma. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Roosevelt and Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
182b
Applied Anthropology
[
ss
]
Examine the historical, theoretical foundations and practical dimensions of socially-engaged and "applied" anthropology; structural relations between academic anthropology, international development and social activism; and ethics in "action anthropology." Usually offered every second year.Staff

ANTH
184b
Cross-Cultural Art and Aesthetics
[
nw
ss
]
A cross-cultural and diachronic exploration of art, focusing on the communicative aspects of visual aesthetics. The survey takes a broad view of how human societies deploy images and objects to foster identities, lure into consumption, generate political propaganda, engage in ritual, render sacred propositions tangible, and chart the character of the cosmos. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Urcid

ANTH
185a
Archaeological Science
[
ss
]
Prerequisites: One year of college-level chemistry, biology, and physics, or the equivalent. Signature of Mr. Koh, the Brandeis liaison, required. Topics vary from year to year. May be repeated for credit.A lecture course in which leading experts from the faculty of the seven major Boston-area universities and the Museum of Fine Arts that comprise the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology (CMRAE) consortium discuss how they apply scientific technology and engineering methods to archaeological analysis. Deals with topics such as radioactive and other methods of age determination, archaeological site formation and soil micromorphology, and the study of materials used in ancient building construction. Usually offered every second year.Staff

ANTH
186b
Linguistic Anthropology
[
ss
]
Advanced topics in linguistic anthropology, including the study of linguistic meaning in context, pragmatics, the construction of social relationships through language, language and authority, language and religion, and linguistic ideologies. Usually offered every second year.Ms. McIntosh or Mr. Parmentier

ANTH
187a
Materials Research in Archaeology, I
[
ss
]
Enrollment limited to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Topics vary from year to year, and the course may be repeated for credit.A series of courses, each focusing on a specific topic, such as archaeological analysis of animal or plant remains; the analysis of lithic materials, pottery, or metals; GIS; and statistical analysis. Courses are offered each semester, taught by faculty from the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology, a consortium that includes Brandeis, Boston University, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Museum of Fine Arts, Tufts, University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Wellesley College. Usually offered every year.Staff

ANTH
188b
Materials Research in Archaeology, II
[
ss
]
Enrollment limited to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Topics vary from year to year, and the course may be repeated for credit.See ANTH 187a for course description. Usually offered every year.Staff

ANTH/ENG
150a
Cases and Clues: Reading Novels and Ethnographies as Cultural Explorations
[
hum
ss
]
Compares novels and anthropological ethnographies: both are attempts to narrate human cultures, but the ways they do so are radically different. We compare the inside/outside role of the novelist and the anthropologist, and examine the different methodologies and assumptions of anthropological and literary studies. Authors include Austen, Dickens, Conrad, Johannes Fabian and Sidney Mintz. Usually offered every fourth year.Ms. Ferry and Mr. Plotz

(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students

ANTH
201a
History of Anthropological Thought
A historical examination of major ideas and perennial problems in social thought that have led to the development of modern theory and method in anthropology. Usually offered every year.Mr. Parmentier or Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
202b
Advanced Ethnographic Research Methods
An intensive study of anthropological research and ethnographic practice, with particular attention to topic formation, field notes and evocative writing. Combines discussions ethnography with writing workshops. Readings include essays on research methodology and critiques of ethnographic practice, as well as ethnographic monographs that demonstrate sophisticated fieldwork practices. Writing workshops cover issues such as taking notes in the field and describing scenes, speech in action, characters, language and affect. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Anjaria

ANTH
233b
Readings and Research in Punishment and Penal Systems
Ms. Lamb

ANTH
234a
Readings and Research in Culture and Trauma
Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
235a
Readings and Research in Latin American Cultures
Ms. Ferry, Mr. Golden, or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
238a
Readings and Research in Urban Anthropology
Mr. Anjaria

ANTH
240a
Readings and Research in Myth and Ritual
Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
241a
Readings and Research in New World Ethnohistory
Mr. Golden or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
243a
Readings and Research in Anthropology of Body
Ms. Lamb or Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
244a
Gender and Sexuality Seminar
Examines gender constructs, sexuality, and cultural systems from a comparative perspective, and major theoretical trends in feminist and queer anthropology. Usually offered every year.Ms. Lamb

ANTH
247b
Readings and Research in Human Development
Ms. Lamb

ANTH
250a
Readings and Research in Psychological Anthropology
Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
251a
Readings and Research in Colonialism/Postcolonialism
Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
252a
Readings and Research in Anthropology of Art
Mr. Urcid

ANTH
253a
Readings and Research in Economic Anthropology
Ms. Ferry

ANTH
255b
Readings and Research in East Asian Anthropology
Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
256a
Readings and Research in Religion
Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
257a
Readings and Research in Families and Households
Staff

ANTH
258a
Readings and Research in Computer-Mediated Communication
Staff

ANTH
264b
Readings and Research in Trauma and Cultural Transformation
Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
265a
Readings in Culture and Mental Illness
Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
266a
Readings and Research in Aging
Ms. Lamb

ANTH
283a
Readings and Research in Fieldwork
Staff

ANTH
284a
Readings and Research in Archaeological Methods
Mr. Golden or Mr. Urcid

ANTH
285a
Readings and Research in Gender and Sexuality
Ms. Lamb or Ms. Schattschneider

ANTH
286a
Readings and Research in South Asia
Ms. Lamb

ANTH
287a
Readings and Research in Medical Anthropology
Ms. Hannig or Ms. Lamb

ANTH
288a
Readings and Research in Immigrant and Transnational Communities
Ms. Lamb

ANTH
289a
Readings and Research in Biological Anthropology
Mr. Urcid

ANTH
297a
Internship
Staff

ANTH
300a
Directed Research for MA Students: Master’s Paper
Does not count toward 8 course requirement for degree.Semester-long research project culminating in a Master’s paper. Students select a specific research topic in consultation with the adviser. Usually offered every semester. Staff

ANTH
304a
Readings and Research in Anthropological Field Methods
Staff

ANTH
305d
Anthropology Colloquium
Staff

ANTH
340d
Anthropology Graduate Proseminar
Normally required of PhD and MA students during the coursework phase. Not for credit. A year-long seminar that meets weekly. Focuses on professional development and presentations of new research by invited scholars, faculty and students. Offered every year.Staff

ANTH
400d
Dissertation Research
Specific sections for individual faculty member as requested.Staff

Cross-Listed in Anthropology

CLAS
133a
The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
[
ca
hum
]
Surveys the main forms and styles of Greek art and architecture from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period in mainland Greece and on the islands of the Aegean. Archaeological remains and ancient literary evidence help explore the relationships between culture, the visual arts, and society. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Koh

CLAS
134b
The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome
[
ca
hum
]
Surveys the art and architecture of the ancient Romans from the eighth century BCE to the end of the empire in Sicily, mainland Italy (with focus on Rome, Ostia, Pompeii, and Herculaneum), and in the Roman provinces. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Koloski-Ostrow

CLAS
187a
Art, Archaeology, and Society in the Holy Land
[
hum
]
Surveys the archaeological and social history of the southern Levant from the emergence of complex societies in the Chalcolithic to the hegenomy of the Romans, emphasizing developments after the Early Bronze Age such as the rise and fall of the Iron Age biblical states. Usually offered every third year.Mr. Koh

LING
140a
Architecture of Conversation: Discourse and Pragmatics
[
oc
ss
]
Prerequisite: LING 100a or permission of the instructor.Assuming a theory of sentence-level linguistic competence, what phenomena are still to be accounted for in the explication of language knowledge? The class explores topics in language use in context, including anaphora, deixis, implicature, speech acts, information packaging, and pragmatics of dialogue. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Malamud

PSYC
131a
Child Development across Cultures
[
ss
wi
]
Prerequisite: PSYC 33a or 36b. Juniors and seniors have priority for enrollment.In this seminar child development is compared across two cultures within the United States: the dominant European American culture and Navajo culture. The main objective of the course is to help students learn about the processes involved as culture influences development. Usually offered every year.Staff

Courses of Related Interest

POL
200b
Quantitative Methods for Social Science
Open to GSAS students.Introduces graduate students in the social sciences to statistics and quantitative methods, including purposes and objectives of statistical inference, graphical and visual display of data, significance testing, and regression analysis. Usually offered every second year.Staff